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Blasts from the Past

I don’t have a lot of extra computer time in my life. Come to think of it, I don’t have a lot of extra time in my life, period. When I’m on the computer, I’m working on today…right now…what has to be done this minute: finishing up photos, writing, and blog posts that relate to that day only. Then I’m off the computer to do school, haul my kids around, and try my best to make sure my family has clean underwear for the next day.

Because spare computer time is so scarce, I very rarely look back and read my old writing or look at old photos.

But in my search the other day for a photo I needed, I wound up browsing some of the older photos I took when I first discovered (and knew very little about) photography.

It was fun to look back.

If you’ve been taking photos for a few years, I’d highly recommend looking at your old stuff. It helps to see where you’ve been, where you’ve gone since then, and what you might do in the future.

November 2006.

August 2006.

October 2006.

May 2007. (The date on this camera was off by one year, so I have a whole crop of photos that I always have to adjust a year forward in my mind. Good times.)

March 2008.

April 2007.

May 2007.

January 2008.

May 2006. This was one of the very first shots I ever took with my new “big girl” camera. I knew so little about my camera and how it all worked that I deleted the memory card–and the original file on my computer–a few minutes after I uploaded this photo to my blog. I have no idea how I managed to do that with the push of one button, but it happened.

I’d love to have the original so I could fix it and make it better.

But it also makes me laugh to remember how little I used to know about this kind of thing.

I repeat: Look back at your old photos when you have time. It’s a nice stroll down Memory Lane.

Ree- you have a beautiful, artistic eye! A gift that not all of us have. I so throughly enjoy looking at your photos. Even your older ones were splendid. Thank you for the time you put into your posts/web site. I work alone in our home based business and you are my coffee break/water cooler time.

Cathy

That photo of the the horses is beautiful!

Yogamama

You have a natural eye Ree, your early photos are stunning.

http://kirantarun.com/blog Kiran @ KiranTarun.com

Another great reason to love blogging. Strolling down the memory lane. Thanks for the reminder, Ree🙂

http://lollingabout.wordpress.com Rachel

I love looking back at pictures. Sometimes when I’m stressed at work I’ll take a moment and flip through my archives of a beach vacation or Christmas. Its a great destresser.

http://potsnpies.blogspot.com/ Clayvessel

Do you look at these and think, ah….back when life was simple?

Love that first photo a lot!

Martha Carter

They all look fabulous to me!!!! As good today as yesterday!!

Mary Elizabeth Rawl

I don’t look at my old photos for the technical; old photos are for the memories. Photos capture moments of time and you can’t “fix” that.

http://cherylbarker.blogspot.com/ Cheryl Barker

These are amazing photos, Ree. I don’t have a big girl camera, but I did just get a new Canon with a great optical zoom lens so I’m looking forward to taking some better pics myself in the days to come. Love, love, love your photos!

http://leavehappier.wordpress.com Amber

Yeah, my old photos definitely don’t look like this. Come to think of it, most of my current photos don’t look like this. You can see why I’m very excited about my upcoming “outdoor photography” class!

Traci

I’m obviously not a good photographer because if those pictures are “bad” then all mine are horrible!🙂 I love a good picture but I love the stories in the pictures so much more.

http://www.kitchenparade.com Alanna

The “slide show” screen saver is my totally favorite thing — I keep all my pictures there, the weeded out ones, that is — and NO FOOD — so every day am looking back at old family shots (scanned to jpg) and already remembering last week’s float trip.

And I keep a spare set that I transfer to my dad’s laptop — he loves the surprise of what’s added!

http://livefaithfully.blogspot.com Urban Wife

I absolutely love looking back at old photos I’ve taken. Definitely a great learning experience and not to mention, a good way to reminisce!🙂

http://mrsaudvm.blogspot.com Kristi

I had all my pictures randomly scroll as my screen saver with my old computer. How I loved seeing all of those pictures! Now that I have a laptop, I miss having a screen saver…🙂

Melissa in Texas

Love looking back at old photos!!! And I’ve passed this along to my kids!

Michelle Crist

Oh my goodness, look how “young” Charlie is!!!🙂

http://www.seriouslysassymama.com Seriously Sassy Mama

I am slowly but surely figuring out all this camera stuff. I am a cheater and love to just not use the flash, and let the computer do the work. Baby steps.

http://katiekdid.com katie@ KatieDid

I do this sometimes too and its a little motivator to see that even in just a few short months how much can change. And with my whole life ahead of me full of moments to photograph, hopefully I will only continue to grow.

http://successalongtheweigh.blogspot.com/ The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh

Wow, if those are your “early” shots, I stink! LOL But I hope to improve and that’s all we can ask for. Have a great weekend!

Andrea Kaye

I love looking at old pictures. With my high school reunion next week, I spent the last couple of days going through old yearbooks, etc. Sometimes I wonder why I ever listened to my mother (REALLY BAD HAIRCUT) or didn’t listen to my mother (REALLY BAD WARDROBE CHOICES). My favorite pic ever is of my dad as a baby (1929) with granddad, and great-granddad. He’s barely able to sit up just playing drums on a watermelon bigger than he is, while they eat slices of watermelon wider than their heads.

Faith

I’ve done this periodically and am instantly transported back to that time. Old pictures bring back some great and maybe some sad memories. Especially the black and whites (I’m dating myself!) My father did a photo album of me from the time I was born until I got married and then gave it to me when I got married. He didn’t want to part with it. I did personal photo albums for both of my boys, who are now 26 and 23. In their albums are pictures from the time they were born to the present. It stops when they are married and I put in the wedding picture. My older son has been married four years. My younger son, not yet. You hate to part with them but they do make a great wedding present!